The Minister for Youth Peter Garrett said the statement's were outrageous.

"Comments like these send the wrong message to young people who watch the program and I find them very concerning - what planet is he on?" Mr Garrett told News.com.au.

"Promoting positive body image has been one of my priorities as Youth Minister. In July we sent every school in the country a poster and information pack as part of our ‘Respect Every Body’ campaign, and we’ve also given funding to the Butterfly Foundation for its ‘Free to BE’ body esteem resources.

"Everyone has an ideal weight for their body and that’s what we should all aspire to."

Responding to people tweeting their anger over his comments, Perry said:

@AlexPerry007@bekskins bek, watch the episode, I was referring to her posing skills in a confined space, NOT her size. Alex ;i-)

The model at the centre of the controversy, Alissandra Moone, yesterday said: "It's a very bad message to be sending to young girls who watch the show.

"It's harsh. It's stupid. And it's out of touch. I understand it's a reality of the (modelling) industry but this is a TV show and they should have a responsibility to censor that kind of thing.

"I know this has happened to other girls in the past but I was shocked when he (Perry) said I was too fat.

"I'm only a size eight. There's going to be a lot of young girls watching this who are bigger than me, and how's this going to make them feel?"

The average dress size for most Aussie women is a 12 to 14, while the most recent Mission Australia youth survey showed body image was the most serious concern facing young people between 11 and 24 -- above bullying, drugs and family conflict.

"I understand it's probably a reality of the industry but no one likes to be told they look fat - regardless of what job you are in," Moone said. "I have never thought of myself as fat. I am a health freak. I go to the gym and eat well."

A spokeswoman for the ButterFly Foundation, which is aimed at educating and supporting people with eating disorders, said: "The (fashion) industry has a responsibility for portraying women of all healthy sizes and in playing a strong educated role in the contribution they make to the serious issue of negative body image.

"We encourage Top Model to be conscious of the example they set to their impressionable viewers."

The critique of Moone's size is in stark contrast to Melbourne Spring Fashion Week organisers' decision this year to only use models with a healthy BMI. Models will be vetted by casting agents to ensure they are not too thin before they are signed up.

The face of this year's festival Sophie van den Akker - a former ANTM contestant herself - is also a size eight.

"As a role model, I think an eight to 10 is more realistic. I think people are more attracted to that than seeing skin and bone," van den Akker has said.

News.com.au's Privacy Policy includes important information about our collection, use and disclosure of your personal information (including to provide you with targeted content and advertising based on your online activities). It explains that if you do not provide us with information we have requested from you, we may not be able to provide you with the goods and services you require. It also explains how you can access or seek correction of your personal information, how you can complain about a breach of the Australian Privacy Principles and how we will deal with a complaint of that nature.